Description

FOR SALE
A Special Edition Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet with last owner for 33 years.

EQUIPMENT
Body-coloured bumpers with protective inserts, front spoiler, body-coloured door mirrors, driving lamps, fully insulated vinyl roof with glass window, integral black roll bar, internally adjustable door mirrors, heated rear screen, folding rear seats, lockable glovebox, wind-down rear quarter windows, cigar lighter, quartz digital clock, tachometer, Ford Self-Seek ESRT 32 PS radio/cassette with anti-theft coding, four speakers and joystick control, electric aerial. Special Edition Equipment: Tu-Tone paintwork, blue fender and boot lid decals, blue bodyside tape stripe, RS Sport rear spoiler, Blue-toned fast-folding vinyl roof, hood cover colour-keyed to upper body, Blue Daytona fabric trim. Factory Options: Electric front windows. Dealer Options: Ford rubber mats.

EXTERIOR
Having been in the ownership of two family members since new, this unrestored example has covered just 26,377 miles and remains in astonishing original condition. A Special Edition model, these were offered in just two choices of Tu-Tone metallic paint, Crystal Blue over Strato Silver or in this case, Strato Silver over Mercury Grey, (Code LX8). The exceptionally beautiful paintwork is factory original throughout and gleams with just a few minor touch-ins mainly to the rear bumper, left to uphold absolute originality. All body panels are factory fitment and pin straight with uniform shut lines and the underside/wheelarch apertures are incredibly clean with no metal fatigue. The original Blue-toned hood is pristine with no fading or fold cracks thanks to strict garage storage since new. The colour-keyed hood cover is present and as new. Factory Sigla glass and Carello head/driving lamps and Ford light fittings remain fitted throughout. An exceptionally well cared for example, preserved as Ford intended.

INTERIOR
A fun and practical option of retro soft-top motoring with space for five and a generous boot! The sports seats trimmed with unique Special Edition blue Daytona fabric trim, (Code SF), are spotlessly clean and show a distinct lack of wear to be expected of such a low mileage example. Door card shrinkage is very common for the model, yet thankfully there virtually no evidence on this example and the often-scratched inner door handles are pristine. The dashboard and switchgear are in superb order and all functions and controls operate including the standard Ford radio/cassette with electric aerial and the roof mounted digital clock. A clean and utterly unspoilt interior complete with a set of genuine rubber Ford ‘waffle’ mats.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
A delightfully crisp, responsive and free-revving 1.6 OHC (CVH) engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection produces 105bhp to achieve 0-60mph in 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 115mph. The engine bay is show-worthy clean, and the real wow factor is the complete originality seen throughout the rest of the car. Factory stickers and labels remain intact and bright as do both the VIN and body plates. Date and Ford oval stamps as well as factory seam sealer assure you these are the original front wings. The car performs brilliantly and the replacement yet standard exhaust system hasn’t lost the characteristic rasp! The five-speed gearbox is light and precise and aids the enthusiastic driving XR owners are known for.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
The Special Edition came with alloy wheels as standard, and these unrestored rims are in excellent condition with a few tiny markings, hardly worthy of mention. Brand new matching Dunlop Sport Blue Response 185/65 R14 tyres were fitted in August 2026 to all four road wheels and originality seekers will be delighted to see the spare wheel that has never been used still wearing the factory Dunlop SP tyre still with coloured banding and nobbles intact! Clipped inside the spare wheel is the unused jack and brace with original soft square protection pads. The diagonally split dual-line servo assisted brakes stop the car straight and quickly.

HISTORY FILE
Produced in October 1987 and registered new on the 25th March 1988 by Ford Main Dealer, Bristol Street Motors in Birmingham, the car was purchased by Mr Launchbury who purchased through his business, Promanco Ltd. After nine months he registered the car to himself and in 1993 it was sold to his brother-in-law, Mr Lambert, who has owned the car ever since. Utterly fanatical about the car, Mr Lambert personalised the number plates with his initials, and it was kept strictly in an integral heated garage. The luxury of being a leisure car only meant it was only used in dry conditions and these cosseting ownership traits are wholly evident in the cars condition. Only no due to ill-health is the car being offered for sale.

In July 2026 the car received a major service using genuine Ford parts where possible and the cambelt and water pump was also renewed at this point. All handbooks are included along with the original service book as well as a Special Edition Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet sales brochure. A further illustration of this cars pampered life is the fact it has never had a single MOT failure or even an advisory! With just 26,377 miles from new and in original condition, this car will appeal to the Blue Oval collector looking for one of the finest preserved examples.

MOT August 2027, HPI clear.

To see a video of this car please copy the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iryxNfbdS-s

To see a complete set of photographs of this car please copy the link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kgfclassiccars/albums/72177720335137558/

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